Trump angers Bangladeshis

This paper found a mysterious alliance between Donald Trump and his Middle East allies in hosting the Riyadh anti-terror conference. It was mysterious because Trump had made known his anti-Islam views long ago during poll campaign and let the world know his and his son-in-lasw’s amorous relations with Israel. And Trump even danced to the tune of sword-wielding Saudis and succeeded in causing rifts among Islamic countries with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE pitched against Qatar. The active promoter of Israeli Jews even sold arms worth billions of dollars to both Saudi Arabia and Qatar by making a wedge between the two.
Bangladeshis too are furious. They feel Trump has ignited world anger with his most insensitive, dangerous and ill-advised decision to recognise occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The move is a blatant betrayal of Palestinian cause, threatens regional stability and has created a risk of potentially violent protests. Trump has ignored warnings by prominent world leaders of dangerous consequences and, with one stroke, has toppled decades of US policy.
The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation had also stated that changing occupied Jerusalem’s status would amount to “naked aggression” against the Arab and Muslim world. Under an international consensus backed by successive US presidents, occupied Jerusalem’s fate is to be determined through negotiations. The majority of embassies to Israel are located in the Tel Aviv area, which is recognised by the international community as Israel’s capital.
If at all anything, Trump’s move comes close to fulfilling a campaign promise, and will delight his political donors and the conservative and evangelical base so vital for the embattled president. A waiver has been invoked by successive US presidents, postponing the move on grounds of “national security” once every six months, meaning the law has never taken effect. The danger is that by recognising occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the United States could reinforce Israel’s position that settlements in the east are valid Israeli communities. The two-state solution is the only one for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and this is precisely what the Israelis want to scuttle through such moves.
Seventy years since the UN General Assembly Resolution 181 was adopted, a sovereign and independent State of Palestine has yet to emerge. East Jerusalem is an intricate part of occupied Palestinian territory and the capital of any future Palestinian state. Trump’s approach will extinguish his own efforts to broker Middle East peace while igniting the flames of conflict in a region already reeling from crises.
The move is certainly a flagrant violation of international law, relevant UN Security Council’s resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention. Trump’s action has only complicated the Palestine issue, instead of resolving it. Israel has been looking for a ploy to destroy the peace process and the two-state solution. Through his condemnable action, Trump has facilitated just that.